$£*
u
I
THE
Bilhop of OXFORD^
CHARGE
T 6 T H E
CLERGY
O F H I S
DIOCESE,
A T H I S
^tmarp Btfttation
In July 17^,
LONDON:
Printed by J. Htptinflall, forGEORGE Mortlock,
at the Ph<znix in St. 'Paul's Church-yard. 1 7 1 6.
"'i i\
( I )
My Reverend and Dear Brethren,
I N C E ic hath pleas' d the Di-
vine Providence, which often
makes ufe of the Meaneft Inftru-
ments, to call Me, however Un-
worthy, to this Publick Station
in the Church, I have embrac'd
this firft Opportunity, which
my necelTary Attendance on Parliament and Con-
vocation would allow me, of meeting my Clergy.
And here in the firft place I muft not omit to
Congratulate with You on the Freedom we now
enjoy of coming together in this Open, Peaceable
and Solemn Manner, after the late mod Horrid
and Unnatural Rebellion 5 which, had it fucceeded
according to the Wifhes of our Enemies, in ad-
vancing to the Throne of thefe Kingdoms a Perfon
train'd up from his Infancy in all the Superftitions
of Popery, together with the Maxims of Tyranny
and Arbitrary Power, could fcarce otherwise have
A 2 ended,
(4)
ended, without the immediate and wonderful Inter-
pofition of Providence, than in the utter Extirpation
of our Religious and Civil Liberties j and would
moft probably in a very fhort Time have prov'd
Fatal to the whole Proteftant Intereft, of which the
Church of England, under the Divine Favour and
Protection, hath ever fince our Happy Reformation
been the chief Support and Bulwark.
In return for this great- BlefTing, let it be our con-
stant Study and Endeavour to make fuch a Religi-
ous Improvement thereof as our Duty to God re-
quires, and all good Men juftly expect j by adorn-
ing wich fuitable Lives and Conventions, that Holy
Religion which hath been thus wonderfully preferv'd,
and engaging to the like Behaviour, as far assies in
our Power, all thofe, over whom the Holy Ghofl hath
made us OVerfeen. This is the beft and only Method,
as well to fecure the Profperity of that Pure and
Apoftolical Church whereof we are Members, as to
advance the Efteem and Dignity of our own Office
and Character, and to fit us for the rendering ro
our Great Mafter a fatisfactory Account of that
weighty Trufl: which he hath committed to us.
Others may defend our Native Country by their
Military Conduct and Achievements, guide and
direct it by their Counfels, improve its Trade, in-
creafe its Wealth, and by various other Arts and
Methods contribute in their feveral Stations to its
outward Peace and Profperity * but to inftill the
Prin-
( 5 >
Principles of true Religion into. Me. ns Minds> to re-
form their vicious Habits, and to promote the unU
verfal practice of Piety and Virtue, this, as 'tis our
peculiar Province, fo, if faithfully difcharged, will
be our chief Happiriefy and Glory. So far is this,
both for its Dignity and Importance, fupefiour to
the highefl: Truft$ and Employments of any other
kind,, as the Soul is ^raore excellent than the Body,
and our Eternal Welfare of more Gonfequence than
any Temporal hitereft or Advantage; and, though
it chiefly aims .at the bettering our Spiritual and Fu-
W^rSyia^W>l*:ft5':tftflucnce : reacheth alfo to the
.pKfentjfeteHo^r^WOr^ it being hence, that Ser-
Vantfc Jfcarn to l bc more Faithful, | Children more
Obedjent, Subjects more Loyal,, Magiftrates more
"lY J giJ*flE.f0r z kp common Good of their People, and
•fajl £>cher Orders of Men to make a Confcience of
their refpe&ive Duties to God and one another 5
and that by this Means any Nation or Community
is entituled to the Divine Favour and Protection.
This is the great and good Work, to which the
Prpvidence of God hath call'd us, to which the Au-
thority -.of the Church hath appointed us, and to
which,: in a mod folemn and publick Manner we
have all confecrated our felves. Let, us therefore
ierioufly, faithfully, and conftantly attend it; let it
be both our Bufinefs and Diverfion, and laying
afide all other Studies and Employments, let us,
as it deferves, and as we have openly vow'd in the
Fa,
f
( 6 )
Face of the Church, give up our felves wholly to
this one Thing. Ealle it were to enlarge, and 'tis
rather difficult to forbear enlarging, on a Subject fo
ufeful, fo copious, fo noble : But I fpeak to thofe,
who, 'tis to be hbp'd, have long fince throughly
weigh'd and confider'd, and do daily not only con-
fider, but put in practice thefe Things \ and if any
amongft us fhould want to be put in mind of their
Duty in this refpect (and who is there fo watchful,
or fo perfect, as never to need a Rembrancer >) They
may foon have recourfe to the Excellent Liturgy of
our Church, where the feveral Duties incumbent on
the Sacerdotal Office are fo fully 'fet form, and fo pa-
thetically prefs'd and recommended, that 'tis hard-
ly poffible to exprefs more in fo fhort a compafs :
infomuch that whoever at convenient diftances of
Time, if it were but at the four ftated feafons of
every Year, (hall allow himfelf leafure attentively
to read over the Offices of Ordination, and fliall
then carefully imprint upon his Memory the weighty
and earneft Exhortations there directed to be given,
and ferioufly recoiled: the full Extent and DeiTgn of
of the folemn Profeflions and Promifes he once made
to God and the Church, cannot fail of having his
Mind fufficiently furnifh'd, as well with juft Notions
of his paftoral Duty, as with proper Motives and
Inducements to the faithful and conftant difcharge
of it.
IwiOi
( ? }
r widi I could fay, and happy were it for this
Church and Nation, if it could truly be laid, that
fuch is the prefent ftate of our Affairs, as doth not
require the utmoft Vigilance, and even more than
ordinary Care and Application of a diligent, pious
and prudent Clergy. But it was long fince foretold,
that Herefies would arife, and that Offences muft
come ; and the Event hath fully anfwer'd this Pre-
diction • there having never been any Age or Part
of the Chriftian Church, which cpuld boaft of fo
much Purity or Perfection, as to be for any conilde-
rable time wholly free from Unworthy and Falfe
Members, who did either by their unfound Doctrines
corrupt and undermine, or by their flagicious Lives
prophane and difhonour that Holy Faith which we
profefs. Even in the Sacred College of Apoftles
one was found, who for a little fordid Gain betray *d
the Lord and Saviour of all the World. In the Age
immediately following, which was one of the beft
the World ever faw, St. John writing to the Seven
Jfian Churches in the Name and by the fpecial Di-
rection of Chrift, blames one of them for having
left her fir ft LoVe, another for having in her Com-
munion thofe that held the Dottrine of the Nicolaitans,
a third for Offering Jezebel, who call'd herfelf a Pro-
phetefs, to /educe the Chriftiam to commit Fornicationy
and to eat Tlnngs facriftced to Idols ; a fourth for being
lukewarm, wretched and miferabk, and poor, and blind,
and naked j and in fhort,- fcar.ee leaves any one of
them, '
( 8 )
chem, except that of Smyrna, without fome remark-
able and fevexe Reprehendon. About this time
alfo broke forth' the deteftable and infamous Se&s
of the Gnoftick Herefy, of whofe abfurd and wic-
ked Principles and Practices even the better fort of
Heathens would have been afliam'd. And if in
thofe early Times, when Men took not upon them
the Prorefllon of our Holy Religion to comply with
any prevailing. Fafhion, or on the profpecl: of Tem-
poral Advantage, but to be a Chriftian was a thing
of the utmoft Reproach, Difficulty and Hazard, to
be a Minifter of the Gofpel was to (land in the
Front or Heat of the Battle, and to be a Bifhop was
to be both by Jews and Gentiles, that is, by all the
World, marked out for inevitable Deftruction 5 if
even in thefe Days Vice and Corruption were fo
prevalent $ we cannot wonder to hear, that after-
wards the (fate of Religion in this refpecl: became far
worfe when Men were invited and allured to de-
clare themfelves Chriftians, as well by great Civil
Rewards and Encouragements, as by the perfua-
five Examples of the Roman Emperors themfelves.
After this, the great Inundations of favage people,
which overturn d the whole ftate of the Weftern
Empire, introduc'd Ignorance and Barbarifm, the
Natural Confequence whereof were Superftition and
Idolatry, which in thefe parts of the World almoft
every where reign' d till the Reformation, whereby
they were happily difpell'd. And had we faithfully
improved
( 9 )
improv'd thofe great Advantages, which Divine
Providence did then, and hath ever fince put into
our Hands, every one among us } from the lead to
the greateft, would have been, in the Prophet's
Phrafe, taught of God y perfectly inftructed and ae-
complifh'd in all things needful for good Chriftians
either to know or pra&ife $ which would have ren-
der' d all the Duties of our Minifterial Vocation, as
with refpect to thofe committed to our Care ex-
tremely fuccefsful, fo to our felves mod: eafie and
pleafant. But, alas, 'tis our Misfortune, whilft
fome led away by ftrong and inveterate Prejudices
tenaciouily adher'd to their ancient flate of Blind-
nefs and Superftition, and others through Atheifm
and Irreligion, or Sloth and Inadvertency difregar-
ded the Light ofTer'd to them ; whilft too many
fcarce apply'd it to any other life than to maintain
unprofitable Controverfies, to promote Divifions,
and to draw Parties afrer them, and perhaps the
greateft Number by their vicious Lives rendered
themfelves wholly uncapable of receiving any true
Benefit from it, that the Event prov'd far otherwife.
I would not be thought, and far be it from me to
compare either our Virtues or our Vices with thofe
of the Members of that corrupt Church, from which
by the particular Blefling of God we have been fo
well and wifely Reform'd : Whatever our Fault be,
which indeed are too many and too publick, it is
well known, and might eafily be prov'd, were it
B not „
( to )
not coo notorious to be deny'd, that fome of the
worft of them have been acted and connived at, and
even countenanced and encourag'd by many who
have fill'd the higheft and moft Sacred Places in
that Communion. But, leaving thefe Men to (land
or fall to their own Matter, it is a thing highly to
be lamented, and which is generally lamented by
good Men, that notwithstanding the Light of the
Gofpel, hath been in every part of this our Native
Country fo clearly and fully difplay'd, its Precepts
inforc'd with fuch perfuafive and moving Eloquence,
and its Doctrines demonftrated even to the meaneft
Capacities with fo much Strength and Perfpicuity,
as hardly any Age or Nation can parallel, yet Vice
and Prophanenefs, Scepticifm and Irreligion, inftead
of lofing their Ground, or being almoft entirely
rooted out and extinguifh'd, as might juftly have
been expected, have on the contrary, to the great
Difhonour of God and Religion, increas'd and ga-
ther* d ftrength, and are become far more infolent
and barefac'd than formerly. I could heartily wifh
that thefe were only the Complaints of Melan-
choly and Contemplative Men, who are apt to pais
hard Cenfures upon their own Times, and com-
monly judge of the ftate of the World rather by
foine imaginary, and perhaps impracticable Schemes
of their own, than by any thing which hath really
therein happen' d : And I doubt not, but that, as
in the Days of Eltas> when Idolatry had fo far over-
fpread
( 11 )
fpread the Kingdom of 1/rael, that the Prophet
look'd upon himfelf to be the only perfon who re-
main' d of all the Worfliippers of God, fo now alfo,
and much more it would appear upon due Enquiry,
that there are many truly pious and faithful Mem-
bers of this Church, who thro' the Grace of God
have all along been preferv'd from the prevailing
and epidemical Vices of the Age : yet I am afraid,
that the more we look abroad, the greater caufe we
fhall find to complain, of the general Neglect both
of the publick and private Duties of Religion in
fome, of the great Depravation of Moral as well
as Religious Principles in others, ofamanifefi: In-
difference or Lukewarmnefs to every thing beyond
the prefent Life in moft, and in too many of the
mod fhamerul Contempt of all things Sacred, even
of thofe mod: Solemn Oaths and Obligations, which
in all Ages and Countries have been held inviolable.
By whom or through what means thefe Tares
came to be fount among us, is not very eafie, and
perhaps not material, to determine. Some derive
them from the long Rebellion of the laft Age.
The feign'd Shews and Pretences of fome Men at
that time to more than ordinary Piety and Devotion,
under which the worft Defigns were often cloak'd
and carried on, are thought to have bred in others
an Averilon to all outward appearances of Religion,
and at length to have ended in Prophanenefs, Scep-
ticifm, and downright Infidelity. And as from
B 2 one
( >* )
one Extreme Men often run into another, (o it hath
been obferv'd, that the Superftition and Hypocrifie
of one Age are commonly follow'd by Atheifm
and Irreligion in the next. Some again are of
Opinion, that if after the Happy Reftoration of our
Ancient' Government in Church and State, due
Meafures for the Suppreflion of Vice, and for the
Encouragement of True Religion and Virtue had
been ferioufly perfued, thefe Evils might have been,
if not wholly prevented and remedy'd, at lean; very
much leiTen'd and abated j and therefore refer to
this account the licentious and diforderly way of
Living, to fpeak nothing more fevere of it, w hich
from great Examples in the Reign immediately fol-
lowing dirTus'd it felf, as 'tis common and almoft
natural for ill Habits and Cuftoms to do, through
all inferiour Ranks and Degrees of Men amongft
us. Others date the more than ordinary increafe
of Irreligion from the late Happy Revolution, and
it muft be own'd, that in great Mutations of Pub-
lick Affairs Men of Heterodox Principles common-
ly appear more open and undifguis'd, than in quiet
and fettled Times ; hoping perhaps that the preva-
lent Humour of changing may furnifh a favourable
Opportunity to eftablifh their new Opinions, or at
leaft that in the publick Hurry and Confufion they
themfelves fhall efcape with Connivance and Impu-
nity. Some of our Hiftorians complain of the
growth of Scepticifm and Prophaneneis about the
time
( '3 >.
time of the Reformation : Neither is it flrange, that
the obliging Men under the fevereft Penalties to a
fort of Half-Popery in one Reign, to be compleac.
Proteftants in the next, to refume all their former
Superftitions in the third, and in the fourth to be
Proteftants again, together with the fhameful Com-
pliances of too many with all thefe Alterations, and
this in the Compafs of a few Years, unfetded in
many, and in others almoft quite erfac'd'the Prin-
ciples of Religion and Virtue. Whether fomething
of the fame kind, tho' in a lefs degree, did not
happen at the Revolution, others, who are more
converfant in the Tranfa&ions of that and the
Times immediately preceding may better judge.
This feems to be on all hands confefs'd by fober
2nd confederate Men, that there is fcarce any thing
which hath contributed more to the Corruption
both of Mens Morals and Principles, than our un-
fortunate Diviiion into Parriej, which feem to have
fb far prevail'd, as, even to deftroy the diftinction
of Virtue and Vice, Religion and Prophanenefs 5
infomuch that in order to be reputed one of the befl
or worft Men in the World, there needs fcarce any
o:her Accomplifhmenr than with intemperate Zeal
to engage on one fide, and againft ano.her. Jt is
not my defign, and moft unfeafonable would it be,.
to reflect on one Party more than another ; in this
Gafe efpecially, wherein no Party is wholly ^ree
from Blame j and at this Time, when our common
Intereft
( 14 )
Intereft, as well as our Duty calls upon us to lay
allele thofe opprobrious and unchriftian Names of
Diftinction, which have fo long kept us at variance,
and with united Force to oppole the declared Ene-
mies both of our Country and our Religion. The
chief End of all that hitherto hath been faid, is to
fhew the great Neceffity there is for every one of
us to employ his conftant and utmoft Diligence in
the difcharge of that high and weighty Truft 3 to
which Divine Providence hath call'd Us.
In order to promote the Succefs of our faithful
Endeavours, many excellent Rules have been pre-
fcrib'd for the due performance of every part of
the Sacerdotal Office, which, I am in good hopes,
itvis needlefs in this Audience to repeat. One thing,
however, which feems to me to deferve in a parti-
cular manner to be recommended, is habitual and
conftant Serioufnefs as well in our common Con-
verfation, as in the Duties of Religion. I do not
hereby underftand Morofenefs, or any unbecoming
feverity of Behaviour, which inftead of enaging
Men to the Love of Religion, is rather apt to de-
rer them from it j but my Meaning is, that the
moil effectual Method to recommend the practice
of Piety and Virtue to others, is to make it appear
from the whole courfe of our Lives, that they have
taken deep Root in our own Breafts. In vain fhall
that Man endeavour to perfuade others co the great
Duties, for inftance, of Patience and Refignation,
Mor-
( «* 5
Mortification and Self-denial, Meeknefs and For-
giving of Injuries, who is known to live in the
Contempt or Neglect of thcfe Graces, to be ira?
patient and difcontented, fenfual and intemperate,
fiery and revengeful. The well-known Rule, Si vis
me fere, dolendum eft primum ipfi tibi, holds as well
in this as in moft other Cafes. In reading the daily
Prayers of the Church, if any of us, inftead of
pronouncing them in the manner which the Nature
of this Duty requires, that is, gravely, feriouily and
reverently, mould make it his conftant practice to
hurry them over without any Concern or Attention,
and like a Task of which he deiires to rid himfelf
as foon as po/Tible • this, inftead of exciting Devo-
tion in thole that hear him, would rather incline
them to RemilTnefs and Coldnefs, to Irrdigion
and Atheifm. The fame may be apply'd to any-
other Act of our Sacred Function.
As for our Preaching, He that with moft Sim-
plicity and Plainnefs fhall enforce the Motives, and
expound the Doctrines and Precepts contain d in
the Holy Scriptures, unlefs I am very much mifta-
ken, will beft anfwer all the Ends of this Duty.
For thefe Books being deflgn'd for the means of
Salvation to Men of all Orders and Conditions,
were adapted by the Divine Spirit, under whofe
Sacred Influence they were firft written, to all Tem-
pers and Capacities j whereas Difcourfes, which
chiefly coniift of Humane Reafonings, or Deducts
( 16 )
oris from Principles meerly natural, whatever good
Influence they may have on fome kw, who have
improv'd their Minds by Study and Meditation,
are feldom well underftood or attended to by thofe,
who make a great Majority in moll: -Congregations.
Befide that Arguments from the Decency, Con-
venience, or Ficnefs of things are far infer iour in
Weight and Force to thofe propounded by Divine
Revelation;, and therefore Philofophy, when it
flourifli'd moll: in Greece and ac Sjwwe, feems to
have been of little ufe to the generality of Men.
It was the hearing of Judgment to come, which caus'd
FeltXy the corrupt Judge, to tremble. Never were
any Motives fo admirably fuited to operate at all
times on the Hopes and Fears of Mankind, as
Heaven and Hell 5 and the utmoft Demonstration
which any matter of Fact can poffibly receive, is
this That God hath fpoken it. I would not be
underftood, and highly abfurd it would be, efpe-
cially in the Neighbourhood of one of the mod
eminent Nurfcries of Learning in the World, to
decry the Ufe of Reafon and Philofophy, two of
the greateft Beffings and nobleft Gifts that Provi-
dence hath beftow'd on Mankind 5 but the Wile
King hath taught us, that every thing hath its pro-
per Seafon. All I defire under this Head, is, that
in Matters of Religion, and efpecially in our popu-
lar Difcourfes, due Preference be allow'd to Reve-
lation ; and whoever fhall neglect to give the Holy
Scriptures
( 17 )
Scriptures their juft Weight and Authority, will
loon find xhe Authority of his own Exhortations
very much lelTen'd and impair'd.
I am afraid that our Sermons, and in general,
all continued and long Difcourfes, many times fail
of their defir'd Succefs ? and are too ofcen not very
well underflood by many of thofe who come to
hear us, through the want of their having been early
and fufficiently inftructed in the Principles of Reli-
gion • and therefore ic feems to be no inconfiderable
part of our Paftoral Office faithfully and conftantly
to Catechize the Youth under our Care 5 whereby
is underftood not only the teaching them to anfwer
readily to certain Queftions, which unlefs it be far-
ther improved, is a thing of no great Ufe or Ad-
vantage, but the inftilling into their Minds, as far
as they are capable of receiving them, true Notions
of the Doctrines and Duties contained in theCate-
chifm, together with the flricl: and indifpenfable
Obligation incumbent on all of us to believe the
one and pra&ife the other, and thus training them
up in the ways of Piety and Virtue. Often it hap-
pens, that the benefit of thefe Catechetical Inftrucii-
ons exrends it felf to Men of riper Years, though
perhaps unwilling and afham'd to confefs their Ig-
norance ; and will, however, through the Grace
of God aiTifting, engage the rifing Generation to
blefs our Memories.
C One
( »« )
One thing, which, in my Opinion, ought to be
rnoft frequently recommended, and mod earneftly
prefs'd on Mens Confciences, is the daily Exercife
of Religious Duties in private Families: which,
fhoukl it once generally obtain, as without all dif-
pute it ought every where to do, would foon of it
felf, and without any other afliftance, except the
Divine Bleffing, put a ftop to that Deluge of Pro-
phanenefs and Irreligion, which hath broken in upon
us. And one would think there could be no need
of Arguments to perfuade thofe, who every day fin
againft God, daily to confefs and ask Pardon for
their Sins ; or thofe, who always fubfifl: by his Fa-
vour, to return their Tribute of Praife and Thankf-
giving ; or thofe, whofe future Hopes, both in this
Life and the next, entirely depend upon his Bounty,
to implore his Ble/Tmg and Protection. 1 would-
not be thought either to blame, or to caft any fuf-
picion of Blame upon any of my Brethren of the
Clergy, who befide their general Obligation both as
Chriftians and as Clergymen, are farther requir'd
by one of the Rubricks prefix' d before our excel-
lent Liturgy, to fay daily the Morning and Evening-
Trayer either TnVately or Openly, and therefore can-
not be fuppos'd unmindful of their Duty in this re-
fpect : but if by the pious Labours and Example
of the Clergy this Practice was once generally imro-
duc'd into other Families, the happy Fruits of it
would foon appear by the manifcft increafe of Re-
ligion
( 19 )
ligion and good Manners in all parts of the Nation.
This farther remains, which the prefent ftate of our
Affairs will not permit me to pafs over in Silence,
Vi%. That we apply our utmoft Diligence co pro-
mote Union and Concord, and to allay thofe vio-
lent Heats and Animolicies, which, as they gave
Rife to the late Rebellion, fo, unlefs they be feafo-
nably prevented, may at one time or another, and
perhaps when we are leaft apprehenfive of any (uch
fatal Confecjuence, involve this. Church and Nation,
like thofe of the Jews under Vefpafian, in extreme
Mifery and Ruin. Our Bleffed Saviour hath de-
clar'd, that whoever lufleth after a Woman, is an Adul-
terer in the fight of God 3 and St. John, that whoever
batetb bis Brother, is a Murderer : wich the fame truth,
and on the fame account, it may be affirm'd, that
whoever fhall foment Divifions, raife Difcontcnts
and Jealoufies, fpread evil Reports of the Govern-
ment, or fhall Abett and Encourage others who are
guilty of thefe or the like practices, muft partake
of the Sin of Rebellion $ and the rather, becaufe 'tis
not in any Man's Power to command, or fct
Bounds to thefe Diforders, which from inconfide-
rable Beginnings have often produc'd fuch unexpe-
cted and Tragical ErTe&s, as even thofe Men, from
whofe unhappy Contrivance and Management they
took their firft Rife, utterly decelted and abhorr'd :
Whence King Solomon compares the beginning of
Strife to the letting out of Water , which may eafily
C 2 be
be confin'd within its Banks, but thcfe being once
broken down, with irrefiftable Violence overturns
all before it. The Divine Providence hath been
pleas'd to blefs His Majefty's Arms and Counfels
with all the Succefs we could dcfire 5 but lmpoflible
it will be for us to enjoy the Advantages of Peace
in their full Extent, till the prefent Ferments, are
allay 'd, and Mens Minds more difpos'd to Qui-
etnefs and Unanimity, than hitherto they feem ' to
have been : 'and therefore our Duty, as AmbafTa^
dors from the King of Peace, the publick Voice of
our Native Country, and the Expectation of God
and all good Men call upon us ferioufly to apply
ourfelves to the Cure of thefe Diftempers ; and it
having long been accounted the Glory of the
Church of England, that her Sons of the Clergy
have always maintain'd and defended that inviola-
ble Submiffion which is due from all Subjects to
the Supreme Powers, fo fhall our Actions ap-
pear to be confiftent with our Doctrine, if the Re-
bellion being now through the Divine Affiftance
happily ended, all the Seeds of future Difturbances
be through our Means, and, as far as in us lies,
eradicated from the Minds of the People. Thus to
behave ourfelves, our Bleffed Mafter and hfs'Apo-
ftles, and the Chriftians of the next Ages after them,
have constantly taught us both by their Doctrine
and Example, even though cruel Torments and
Perfecution fhould be the beft Reward we could
expect
( 21 )
expect in this Life for our Obedience and Loyalty.
What Zeal ought we then to exprefs for the Service
of a Prince, whofc Interefts are not only perfectly
united, but entirely the fame, with our own j who
is a conftant Member of our Communion, who
hath folemnly promis'd, and doth on all proper
Occafions repeat and confirm this Promife, to pro-
tect us in the Enjoyment both of our Religious
and Civil Liberties • and hath not only obferv'd it
with refpect to us of the Clergy in common with
the reft of his Subjects, but hath diftinguifh'd Us
by feveral peculiar and very great Marks of his
Affection and Favour ? He hath lately purchas'd one
of the larger! and beft furnifli'd Libraries that ever
was poflefs'd by any private Perfon, and plac'd it
in one of our two Univerfities, where it was mod:
wanted 5 and in the firft Year of His Reign, in
Concurrence with the Parliament, He eftablifh'd a
fure Fund for the railing of fuch a Sum towards the
Maintenance of lome of the Clergy, as perhaps, ex-
cept the Royal Bounty of our Late Gracious Sove-
reign, is the greateft Gift that ever was at one time
in any Age beftow'd for this life.
Thus I have endeavour' d with all the Brevity
"Which the Subject would permit, to remind. You
and M) felf of lome of thofe Duties, which feem'd
to me particularly incumbent on Us at this feafon.
Several other things might be added, but having
already too far trefpafs'd on your Patience, 1 fhall
detain
( 21 )
detain you no longer, than till I have acquainted you,
that, as it will be a fingular Delight and Satif-
faction to Me to be ferviceable to any of my
Clergy, either in the Execution of their Ministerial
Office, or the Maintenance of their juft Rights and
Authority, which I fluli always account as a chief
Branch of my own. fo, whatever Information,
Advice, or Affiftance any of you (nail impart in re-
lation to my Duty, (hall be thankfully accepted ;
it being my Defire, that in this Diocefe all things
may be carried on with your Confent and Ap-
• probation.
"Now the God of Peace, that brought again from
the Dead our Lord Jefus, that great Shepherd of
the Sheep, through the (Blood of the everlafting
Covenant^ make you perfetl in every good Work
to do his Will, working in you that which is well-
pleafing in his fight, through Jefus Chrifl, to
whom be Glory jor eVer and ever. Amen.
F 1 N 1 S.
BOOI^S Printed for George Mortlock at the
Phoenix in St, Paul'* Churcb-Yard.
CLementis Alexandrini Opera, qua? Extant Recognita
Scllluftrata. Per Joannem Potterum Epifcopum Oxon.
Bi(hop Stillingfleets Works in 6 Vols. Folio.
Origwes Sacr£ : Or, A Rational Account of the
Grounds of the Chriftian Faith, as to the Truth and
Divine Authority of the Scriptures, and the Matters there-
in contained.
Fifty Sermons preach'd on feveral Occafions.
A Rational Account of the Grounds of the
Protectant Religion : Being a Vindication of the Lord
Archbilhop of Canterbury* Relation of a Conference
from the pretended Anfwer by T. C. wherein the True
Grounds of Faith are Cleared, and the Falfe Difcovered:
The Church of England Vindicated from Schifm, and the
moft important particular Controverfies between us and
the Church of Rtme thoroughly Examined.
Idolatry of the Church of Rome.
Dodtrine of Chrift's Satisfaction : Or, The
True Reafons of his Sufferings.
Horne.k's Beft Exercife, with Prayers fuitable to each
Exercife.
Delight and Judgment.
The New- Years- Gift, Compleat. In Six Parts. With
Devotions for the Sacrament, &c.
The Whole Art of Husbandry : Or, The Way of Ma-
naging and Improving of Land. Being a full Collection
of what hath been written either by Ancient or Modern
Authors, with many Additions, New Experiments and
Improvements not treated of by others. Alfo an Account
of the particular Sorts of Husbandry ufed in feveral
Counties, with Propofals for its farther Improvement.
By J. Mortimer, Efq, Fellow of the Royal Society. In
Two Vols. 8vo.
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